Herbicide use on Mt Davidson – Nov. 2013

It is too wet to apply these herbicides now and these two herbicides are very dangerous, one is banned in Europe and the other in New York:

Polaris (Imazapyr). This Tier II herbicide is a problem because it spreads (it doesn’t stay where it’s applied) and it persists (it doesn’t break down easily). It’s a relatively new herbicide, and we don’t know quite what it does – though its breakdown product is neuro-toxic. It’s banned in Europe, and neighbors are fighting against its use in privately owned forests in Northern California.

Milestone (Amino-pyralid). This Tier I toxic chemical sticks around even more persistently than imazapyr. It was banned for a time in the UK because if animals eat and excrete it, the excreta are still poisonous – as is the manure made from it. It’s banned in New York state because they aren’t sure it won’t poison the water. NAP’s used it in Lake Merced, Pine Lake, Glen Canyon, and Mount Davidson, all of which are areas where water contamination is possible.

An escalating use of herbicides is bad for the environment and the people, pets and wildlife using these parks. It sends a damaging message about priorities and indicates a lack of success with the NAP program.

In August, 2013, we issued (http://sfforest.net/category/applies-pesticides/) a Rec and Park Dept Pesticides Report for the first half of 2013; we noted then that Rec and Park uses more herbicides in the natural areas than in the rest of the Parks together. Also, NAP is the main user by far of the most toxic Tier I pesticide: Garlon.